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A unique guide to the application and theory of photothermal spectroscopy.<br> <br> This book debunks the myth that photothermal spectroscopy is too complicated for practical application to chemical analysis, and demonstrates the advantages this technique has over conventional spectroscopy in facilitating extremely sensitive measurements of optical absorption in homogeneous media. The book covers the subject from the ground up, lists all practical considerations needed to obtain accurate results, and provides a working knowledge of the various methods in use--including photo acoustics and photopyroelectric techniques.<br> <br> Bringing together a wealth of information that has been scattered throughout the professional literature, Photothermal Spectroscopy Methods for Chemical Analysis covers methods and information that should be known to every analytical chemist, including: <br> * Descriptions of photothermal spectroscopy using a consistent mathematical language <br> * Helpful examples from the literature of analytical applications and current research <br> * Illustrations of all important points, consistent equations, and numerous original figures <br> * A discussion of laser technology and how it is used to obtain accurate results from extremely small samples of a few molecules <br> * Everything spectroscopists need to know to construct their own apparatus and use it to conduct successful experiments <br> * Tips on how to interpret experimental results effectively when using nonlinear processes and in many other situations in photothermal spectroscopy <br> * Considerations for further study of heterogeneous sample analysis<br> * Unified nomenclature of the patchwork of terms used by researchers in analytical and physical chemistry, physics, and optical engineering <br> * Equations that are derived with the aid of a symbolic language processor to ensure correct results<br> <br> <br> Photothermal spectroscopy has seen major advances since the advent of laser technology twenty-five years ago. It is now possible, using a laser's coherent and powerful output, to obtain extremely sensitive measurements of optical absorption that exceed those of mass spectroscopy by two or three times, and produce accurate results from only a few molecules.<br> <br> Focusing on samples in homogeneous media, this book provides a unique guide--incorporating theory and application--to all available photothermal spectroscopy techniques for chemical and material analysis. It uses a systematic approach in its comprehensive treatment of the theory, and covers all the necessary background material, from laser optics to fluid dynamics.<br> <br> This accessible text describes the various processes used to detect thermal perturbation of a sample, ranging from optical excitation to nonlinear processes, and covers all optical principles necessary to understand photothermal spectroscopy. When dealing with hydrodynamic equations that govern energy transfer in the sample matrix, it provides an original impulse-response approach. In addition, the book explains how to construct the apparatus one needs to conduct successful photothermal experiments, since commercial equipment is not available as in conventional spectrophotometry.<br> <br> Throughout, this book draws on information from a wide range of fields, including analytical spectroscopy, measurement physics, physical optics, and chemical dynamics. Providing clear explanations at every turn, the author demonstrates a complete understanding of the theory and applications as a firm basis for the correct interpretation of experimental results.<br> <br> For analytical chemists, as well as for students at the graduate level, Photothermal Spectroscopy Methods for Chemical Analysis is an unmatched resource that develops a consistent mathematical basis for signal description, consolidates previous theories, and provides invaluable insight into laser technology.

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This book explores the role of photographs in newspapers and online news, analyzing how meanings are made in images and exploring text-image relations, illustrated with authentic news stories from both print and online news outlets.

Written for the graduate level student in physical sciences; Industrial and academic researchers in photonics, graduate students in the area; College lecturers, educators, policymakers, consultants, Scientific and technical libraries, government laboratories, NIH.

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This book is mostly concerned on the experimental research of the nonlinear optical characteristics of various media, low- and high-order harmonic generation in different materials, and formation, and nonlinear optical characterization of clusters. We also demonstrate the inter-connection between these areas of nonlinear optics.

Nonlinear optical properties of media such as optical limiting can be applied in various areas of science and technology. To define suitable materials for these applications, one has to carefully analyse the nonlinear optical characteristics of various media, such as the nonlinear refractive indices, coefficients of nonlinear absorption, saturation absorption intensities, etc. Knowing the nonlinear optical parameters of materials is also important for describing the propagation effects, self-interaction of intense laser pulses, and optimisation of various nonlinear optical processes. Among those processes one can admit the importance of the studies of the frequency conversion of coherent laser sources. The area of interest for nonlinear optical characterization of materials is also closely related with new field of nanostructures formation and application during laser-matter interaction.

We show how the nonlinear optical analysis of materials leads to improvement of their high-order nonlinear optical response during the interaction with strong laser fields. Ablation-induced nanoparticles formation is correlated with their applications as efficient sources of coherent short-wavelength photons. From other side, recent achievements of harmonic generation in plasmas are closely related with the knowledge of the properties of materials in the laser plumes. All of these studies are concerned with the low-order nonlinear optical features of various materials. The novelty of the approach developed in present book is related with inter-connection of those studies with each other.

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Understanding how photosynthesis responds to the environment is crucial for improving plant production and maintaining biodiversity in the context of global change. Covering all aspects of photosynthesis, from basic concepts to methodologies, from the organelle to whole ecosystem levels, this is an integrated guide to photosynthesis in an environmentally dynamic context. Focusing on the ecophysiology of photosynthesis - how photosynthesis varies in time and space, responds and adapts to environmental conditions and differs among species within an evolutionary context - the book features contributions from leaders in the field. The approach is interdisciplinary and the topics covered have applications for ecology, environmental sciences, agronomy, forestry and meteorology. It also addresses applied fields such as climate change, biomass and biofuel production and genetic engineering, making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the impacts of climate change on the primary productivity of the globe and on ecosystem stability.